It has often been narrated how a crook in Kuwait used religious platforms to collect money for the needy only to be discovered later that the money was being transferred to his bank account. It is not strange that mosques have been used to trick worshippers to collect money or propagate wrong ideas. However, this particular man, who was later arrested, tricked everyone irrespective of their religious affiliations.
He began with the sufis claiming that he was one of their sheikhs and then went to three different Sunni mosques. He took to the podium and collected money from worshippers by claiming that the money will be given to the needy. Then he wore a black turban disguised as a sayyed and then went to Shiites. He mourned with them and collected as much money as he could. Perhaps if there were more churches in Kuwait he would have dangled a cross around his neck and gone there too.
Fraud in the name of religion is an easy and common practice that is not only limited to stealing money but also includes influencing people’s minds. Thousands of young men have sold their souls to these crooks in the name of the so-called jihad and left their homes to fight in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Libya, Yemen and other countries. These fraudulent religious operations are one of the biggest in our history.
Legend has it that there was a Syrian preacher nicknamed Abu Al-Qaqa, who was tasked with hosting enthusiastic Muslim men, organizing their recruitment process and sending them to fight in Iraq. In 2007, Abu Al-Qaqa — who was viewed as a hero by the mujahideen — was killed. It was later discovered that he was a Syrian intelligence officer called Mahmud Al-Aghasi.
Thousands of young men were deceived by the Syrian intelligence, which planted its officers as clerics and succeeded in propagating the idea of “jihad” in Iraq. This has been done for many years in several places under different religious slogans.
And because religion can be used effectively, it will continue to be targeted by crooks, war merchants and those seeking power.
He began with the sufis claiming that he was one of their sheikhs and then went to three different Sunni mosques. He took to the podium and collected money from worshippers by claiming that the money will be given to the needy. Then he wore a black turban disguised as a sayyed and then went to Shiites. He mourned with them and collected as much money as he could. Perhaps if there were more churches in Kuwait he would have dangled a cross around his neck and gone there too.
Fraud in the name of religion is an easy and common practice that is not only limited to stealing money but also includes influencing people’s minds. Thousands of young men have sold their souls to these crooks in the name of the so-called jihad and left their homes to fight in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Libya, Yemen and other countries. These fraudulent religious operations are one of the biggest in our history.
Legend has it that there was a Syrian preacher nicknamed Abu Al-Qaqa, who was tasked with hosting enthusiastic Muslim men, organizing their recruitment process and sending them to fight in Iraq. In 2007, Abu Al-Qaqa — who was viewed as a hero by the mujahideen — was killed. It was later discovered that he was a Syrian intelligence officer called Mahmud Al-Aghasi.
Thousands of young men were deceived by the Syrian intelligence, which planted its officers as clerics and succeeded in propagating the idea of “jihad” in Iraq. This has been done for many years in several places under different religious slogans.
And because religion can be used effectively, it will continue to be targeted by crooks, war merchants and those seeking power.
